Method for painting automobile doors by sequentially holding and painting portions of the door

Abstract

In order for paints not to be adhered to the device for opening and closing a door and to the door fixing unit for maintaining the open state of a door when painting doors of an automobile, the door is alternately held by the opening and closing device and the door fixing unit. The portion of the door which is not held is to be painted, thereby preventing paint from being sprayed directed on the opening and closing device and the door fixing unit with which the door is held, and preventing paint from adhering to these members.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of painting an automobile in an automated assembly line, comprising the steps of: using an automated door opening and closing device to open an automobile door;   using the door opening and closing device engaging a first portion of the automobile door for maintaining the automobile door in an open state;   using a robot painting device to partially paint the held open automobile door in a region not including said first portion;   engaging a second portion of the automobile door with an automated door fixing unit so as to maintain the automobile door in an open state, the second portion being spaced from the first portion;   releasing the door opening and closing device from the automobile door; and   using the robot painting device to further paint the partially painted automobile door, while engaged by the fixing unit, in said first portion.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 including the further step of using the door opening and closing device to close the further painted door.